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Knee pain can have a major impact on daily life.
Walking, running, taking the stairs instead of the lift or getting our 10,000 steps a day – our knees play a crucial role in keeping us on our feet and staying healthy.
We all know the importance of movement when it comes to a healthy lifestyle, but painful knees can have a real impact on our daily life and keeping active.
If your knees are painful, stiff or swollen and traditional painkillers aren’t helping with your symptoms, read on to find out how CBD and other forms of medical cannabis may help improve your symptoms and put a spring back in your step.
Understanding knee pain
Unfortunately, knee pain is very common. Approximately 19% of people in the UK report problems with their knees lasting for more than one week. Following back pain, knee discomfort is one of the most common types of musculoskeletal pain, which involves the muscles, joints, or bones.
So who is at risk of developing knee pain and what are the symptoms?
There are various factors which will affect your risk of developing knee pain. Getting older or gaining extra weight are both significant risk factors. The kind of work that you do or the sports you enjoy playing can also put extra strain on your knees and cause you pain. For example, a high impact sport which requires a lot of intense stopping and starting, like football, running or skateboarding will put a lot more pressure on your knees than a low impact sport such as swimming. Sustaining an injury or just overusing it can also cause knee pain, amongst other often forgotten causes, like poor posture.
There are also inflammatory conditions such as gout or arthritis which cause knee pain. In fact, the most common cause of knee pain in people over 45 is osteoarthritis.
People will experience knee pain in different ways but some of the common symptoms of chronic knee pain may include stiffness, swelling, redness and weakness, or a feeling of instability at the knee. These symptoms can be ongoing or just after you’ve been on your feet all day or exercised more than usual.
How can CBD help with knee pain?
CBD is a cannabinoid extracted from the whole cannabis plant – the flowers, leaves and stalks. Cannabinoids work at a receptor level to inhibit pain responses and there is some evidence that CBD oil may offer pain relief.
Studies have also shown that CBD may have useful pain relieving and anti-inflammatory properties in arthritis.
However, it is important to note that CBD is just one cannabinoid of many contained within the cannabis plant. It does not contain THC, which is only available legally via a medical cannabis prescription. Patients suffering with chronic pain often require THC, or a combination of THC and CBD for further symptom relief. This is due to its analgesic properties and the way that it interacts with similar, but different receptors within the body.
Types of different CBD for knee pain
Most products containing CBD can be purchased over the counter and taken in different ways. For example:
• Topical creams and balms can be applied directly to the skin at the site of pain and discomfort
• Oral tinctures can be dropped under the tongue and capsules swallowed as with any pills
• Edibles and gummies
• Inhaled products, such as vape cartridges or disposable vape pens
One type of CBD product that is not available over the counter is CBD flower. This is a type of cannabis flower with a high percentage of CBD. This type of CBD is only available with a UK medical cannabis prescription, which can be accessed via a licensed clinic, like Alternaleaf. Private clinics are also able to prescribe products that contain a combination of both CBD and THC.
How to choose the right treatment for you
It is important to think about what, if any, medication you are already taking and to familiarise yourself with any potential side-effects or interactions that may be relevant for you if you are considering CBD oil as a potential treatment for your knee pain. It’s also important to discuss any changes to your current treatment plan with your doctor, to prevent any negative interactions between existing medication that you may be taking.
As with all forms of medical cannabis, sticking to the “start low and go slow” method of introducing CBD is always recommended so that you can check for any unwanted effects.
In summary
As we’ve seen, knee pain is a widespread and debilitating condition. There is some evidence to support the pain-relieving properties of CBD oil and other medical cannabis products and cannabinoids which may offer symptom relief for people with knee pain.
If you would like to find out more about how medical cannabis could help manage your knee pain, book an Alternaleaf appointment today.